Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Rashad Evans has been out of action since losing to former friend and training partner Jon Jones in April at UFC 145, but he's been in the news this summer nonetheless.

Evans' name had been mentioned amongst potential challengers for UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva, but seeing as that's not the fight on the table for him, he's not heading to 185 lbs.

"If the UFC offered him Anderson Silva at 185 right now today, he would go and fight Anderson Silva at 185," said Evans' manager, Glenn Robinson of Authentic Sports Management, recently in an interview with MMAWeekly.com. "The UFC is not offering him Anderson Silva at 185 today, so that?s not something that's going to happen. So that's all Rashad ever meant."

That's to the contrary of comments Evans made himself late this summer, where he expressed a willingness to take a fight in the middleweight division in order to earn his shot, but regardless, Robinson says the next bout for Evans will be in the light heavyweight division. He's even got a timetable in mind.

"His goal is to stay 205 and to fight the best possible 205-pounder," Robinson said. "He'd like to fight in December. That's his goal... Whoever is the best available. That's who we'll fight."

Penick's Analysis: That's a little disappointing to hear, because I was intrigued by the idea of Evans at 185 lbs., and I'm not sure who he'd be set against for December. A rematch with Lyoto Machida could make sense, as could a bout with Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, but he lost to Jones in his last bout and both fighters are coming off wins. A fight with Ryan Bader could also make sense, as well as a number of others lower down the ladder, but I'm not sure how much appeal there will be for fights of those caliber off his decision loss to Jones.